New Zealand Football CEO Andy Martin confirmed 13 players "refused to play" for the Football Ferns under coach Andreas Heraf's leadership, according to Joel Kulasingham of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. This comes after NZF on Wednesday announced a review "into the scandal surrounding Heraf." Heraf was given a notice of investigation and is on "special leave" after NZF received a letter from the New Zealand Professional Footballers' Association with a "number of complaints from Football Ferns players." Another letter followed from a previous staff member. Martin confirmed that 13 players said that they "will not play for the Football Ferns" as long as Heraf remains coach. Martin said, "The latest that have come in officially through the PFA have absolutely implied that they don't want to play for the Ferns under Andreas' leadership. This was a shock. Absolutely" (NZ HERALD, 6/20). The NZ HERALD reported Heraf was given notice of investigation "with a proposal for suspension," with an independent investigator to be appointed by the New Zealand Football Exec Committee, in association with the NZPFA, to "review the Football Ferns environment." NZF President Deryck Shaw said, "We hold player welfare as a matter of utmost importance and that is why we are conducting a thorough, independent review. ... New Zealand Football has clear policies and procedures to protect the welfare of staff and players" (NZ HERALD, 6/20). STUFF's Andrew Voerman reported Martin said that there was "no reason to take action until Monday night," when 13 players made complaints. Martin said that he did not believe NZF "could have been more proactive in exploring what was going on with the Ferns in the six weeks since concerns were first aired publicly." Martin: "Hindsight's a wonderful thing, but my judgement over that period of time I believe was right." Concerns about an "unprofessional environment" forming under Heraf were first raised by players almost six weeks ago (STUFF, 6/20).
